Our club offers free instruction to members which ends up costing 36 bucks for a year membership, I think thats fair because you have an idea what you are getting from a club designated instructor vice someone saying "ya I can fly that"

Other than that the only way you should consider paying is one of those dedicated schools where you pay a fee and use thier planes, fuel and get a "ground school" and dedicated training flights.

BarracudaHockey,...what is a BarracudaHockey anyway?...LOL

Yes, I am in total agreement with you. It's not unreasonable to expect the new student to join the club. They will be using your facilities and it does cost money for upkeep. They should chip in their part. Donations (to the club) should be gratefully accepted if offered.

Our club flies on state owned land, therefore no one may be excluded from flying there, AMA member or not. But I have never seen anyone turned away from free instruction, including the use of the clubs spare transmitter and buddy box cord. If you need help there....you WILL get it....sometimes whether you want it or not....LOL.

Rod

Definitely seek help, just avoid paying if possible. Your club should have a training staff that will offer free training. Have we established that you are in a club?

Advice is always free. Good advice costs extra.

Correct answers cost even more.....

I have not officially joined. As far as I know the guy giving instruction is a member. The problem is that there is only one club that I know of in this area.
chopper man

Are you talking about the TRI COUNTY RC FLYERS ? Is he the ONLY trainer there? If so you may be stuck unless one of the experienced pilots there is willing to take you under his wing. That also assumes that is within the club rules.

Check with:
ROBERT LANE
9214 GARLAND DR
SAVANNAH GA 31406-6915
who is the club contact person and get as much info as you can. Just hope that this isn't the guy you are talking about.[:@]

That is the club. I'll have to fine out more info. The next problem is he is only there on Sunday from about 08:00 til Noon. Somewhat limiting wouldn't you say? Thanks for the info!
chopper man

So I guess that guy who runs RC flight school dot com should be banished from "the hobby" from the looks of the posters? Seems to me you get what you pay for in this life and RC is a luxury hobby, so keep that in mind. You can find free lessons from anyone for anything, but sometimes those guys you pay might be doing it better and sometimes not.

Ooh, very clever. No, nobody said that. Everybody has the right to throw away money wherever they wish. If someone is in such a hurry that they want to go and pay the guy at the flight school, Whoopee for them. We're talking to/about the average beginner here. And the free lessons may be of higher quality than the so-called Pro.
Personally, I'll thank you not to try to put words in my mouth for me. I'm quite capable of speaking for myself.

Well said!! Why do some people always want to take advantage of others?
chopper man

besides finding my club members a enjoyable bunch of guys there help and knowledge has been invaluable , not once has any of them asked for any compensation other than a hand shake and a thanks .
almost all the clubs afilliated with the AMA offer free training as long as you are participating in the clubs program . if someone is looking for a high intensity learning curve then pay away , personally I would rather throw the $$ at a sim and take the slower path, it worked for me.

This is the time for an exception to the rule.. "You get what you pay for?" PHOOEY!!

Our club has some great instructors. No charge for training, just club dues and starting next year AMA membership.
Our club specifies one night a week for training. That way the instructors know they can fly their planes, on non training days, and concentrate on training on that night.

Hint: Remember though, Summer nights are warm, spelled "HOT". Bottled water or sodas are always appreciated.

I was trained from June 1 to Sept. 7. Believe me, it showed a lot of patience on the part of the instructors, before I was able to solo. But, we managed to get the job done. What a great feeling of accomplishment!

I'm presently working with a student that can't make it to the field during my normal flying times so we've scheduled special times to suit him. Last Friday, Saturday & Sunday afternoons I've rearranged my schedule so as to meet him at the field and give hime concentrated training. He's progressing nicely. I didn't even consider charging for this. Of course if helps that I live only 5 minutes from the field but wouldn't anyway.

The Barracuda's are a minor league pro hockey team in Jacksonville FL. I'm the arena PA announcer for the team.


I've had people try to give or offer me money for instruction. I just tell them they can pay me back by helping someone else down the line.

COOL! BarracudaHockey, I learned something new. I guess you can teach an ole dawg (fart) new tricks.

That's probably one of the most satisfying feelings there is BarracudaHockey. It does me good to see my efforts being passed on by a new generation of pilots. I think the majority of pilots and clubs feel the same....at least I sure hope they do!

I suppose the end point to this thread is that if you need someone to teach you to fly, then there is someone willing to teach you! Nice combination, if I may say so!

Rod

I have been in the hobby for 18 years now. I fly just about anything I can get my hands on, including helis. ( I said fly, not flying well) The past few years I was getting tired with the same old flying style , so I mixed it up with a little 3d. That helped for a little while. Then it happened again, lost interest. I didn't fly for almost 1 year!!!! I am the Vice pres for our local club (JCRCC), one day my cousin (whom I have't seen for 30 years or so) called and said he saw my name on our club website and could I teach him to fly. I not only soloed him in about 15 flights, I also picked up 3 new students! A new life in the old hobby!
What a rush [&:] The only problem I see in the future is that my students will out fly me someday.

I find that teaching others, teaches me to be a better pilot also!

Your truly,
Dirk

The only thing that I ask of my students is
TO TEACH OTHERS when asked for help

yeah, I like teaching people. Sometimes when I am teaching them, stuff I dont remember comes back to mind. Pretty strange how the brain works. I dont care if they out fly me that actually makes me smile cuz I can always say that I taught them. As long as I dont try to plant new balsa trees at the end of the day, I am happy.

Jut found out today that if you join the club there are several guys willing to help for free. That's what I'm talk'n about!!
chopper man

The only reasonable fee I can see someone charging a student is maybe $5.00 to provide some kind of insurance if the plane he's using isn't his own. But thats it, $50? Rip-off

You guys in america are lucky in Oz we have to get flight instruction until we solo and pass a test, the lessons cost around $35 hour on their equipment. but my instructor was a great help and usually didnt take the money after the first few lessons and after i could fly solo and wasnt a member of the club he let me fly under his membership which was great. I work in the LHS and see how many people are turned off flying as soon as you tell them they have to get lessons and join a club. Over here it is $250 a year for an adult and $150 for concessions. This is an unreal price to have to pay and it all adds up. At the local field it is packed and you can hardly get a spot to set up. People are very interested in the hobby and i see so many people walk out the door with a huge smile on their face after they have brought a R/C heli or plane, But i also see the 9/10 who walk out unhappy and upset becasue it would cost them at least $1000+ just to fly a typical tranier at a club for a year. Its easy to pay for the club fees or for the plane but both together really add up. One day i will get my instructors license ( another thing in oz you must have to buddy box with someone) and get a trainer and do some instruction for the cost of the fuel used, which i think is fair.
Cheers,
Sam